Are people done calling millennials lazy yet? Whether it’s taking part in the gig economy or being an entrepreneur on top of your 9 to 5, there’s some serious career juggling going on amongst the ambitious set nowadays, and it seems to me that we’re actually a generation of side hustlers (whether we want to be or not).
I should know. At 19, I started my first side hustle: a copywriting agency. What began as some extra cash on the side turned into a profitable pursuit and, after a year, I was hiring several freelancers to meet the demand. It increased my confidence, gave me work experience and helped me build my network. And of course, the extra cash doesn’t hurt.
So, where does one get started rustling up a side hustle? And with only so many hours in the day, how do you even find the time to get started? With a day job and social life in tow, side jobs can seem like a stretch, but they don’t have to be a huge time commitment. Here are 22 low-hustle side hustle ideas that are worth considering no matter your skillset. All you need is a little motivation and WiFi to get started:
1. Become a Bird charger.
You can pick up Bird scooters, charge them at home, and “release” them into the wild the next day. Each morning, you’ll get paid for the work you did the night before, which is convenient for sure.
2. Become a micro-influencer.
If you have an IG account and want to be able to make some quick cash from it, now’s your chance. Heartbeat will pair ambassador with brands that they can represent. You’ll get to try new products and up your gram game.
3. Pick up work as a freelance copywriter or designer.
I’ve worked on various projects, from major marketing campaigns to filing financial copy, all without leaving my apartment. Same rules apply if you’re a designer. Companies all over the world are looking for logos, websites, apps and more, right now. Sign up for freelance job alerts from platforms like Upwork and People Per Hour and get applying.
4. Launch an online course.
Demand for e-learning courses is growing quickly. If you’ve got a skill to share, there’s a high chance people will pay for it. Check out e-learning platform Udemy.
5. Try Amazon Affiliates.
Sure, affiliate marketing may sound scammy, but it’s a great side earner that requires almost zero effort. Amazon Affiliates is my favorite. Link it up to your blog and you’ll earn money every time someone clicks on one of your links and purchases anything on Amazon within 24 hours.
6. Become a coach.
After IT, coaching is the second-fastest growing profession in the world. Right now, there’s huge demand for all kinds of coaches, from career coaches to dating coaches. If you’re an expert in something, all you need is a Skype account. Helping people and getting paid in the process? Sign me up.
7. Write an eBook.
Whether you want to ghostwrite for someone else or pen your own title, eBooks are worth exploring if you love to write. Upwork, Funds for Writers and The Write Life all post eBook jobs on the regular.
8. Walk a dog.
Arguably the most fun side hustle on the list, on-demand dog walking apps like Wag! can hook you up with busy dog owners in all major U.S. cities.
9. Sell physical products.
If you love illustrating or graphic design, you can sell your creations without any of the production costs. Simply upload your designs and virtually create iPhone cases, cushions and more via sites like Society6 and CafePress.
10. Review resumes.
This is not a drill: you can make money from helping strangers update their resumes and cover letters. Search for jobs on platforms including Indeed and Upwork as well as professional resume writing companies.
11. Thrift and eBay.
It’s how Sophia Amoruso started her empire. Pro tip: it’s all about the photography.
12. Spend time on Fiverr.
Want to turn your time into cash? Enter Fiverr. Data entry, quick Photoshop jobs, proofreading… it’s all here and more.
13. Use your voice.
Literally. Voiceover work is lucrative, and open to pretty much anyone with a distinctive tone or accent. Voice123 can help.
14. Sell your stock photos.
You’ve got great Instagram game and love taking photos. So why not start selling your work to websites such as Shutterstock and Dreamstime?
15. Complete online surveys.
Everyone has an opinion. Share yours and get paid for it by signing up with Survey Junkie and Pinecone Research.
16. Try out tutoring.
If education is your thing, online tutoring is a great earner. You can find people looking for help with their homework on Eduboard.
17. Teach English.
There’s huge demand for native English speakers to Skype with pupils in Hong Kong, UAE and beyond. Remote.co and Learn4Good often post remote English teaching jobs.
18. Go mystery shopping.
Anyone who has worked in retail will know all about mystery shopping. Marketforce assign restaurants, stores and bars based on location. Earning money to eat out? You’ll be living the dream.
19. Sell ad space on your blog.
Bloggers with a growing audience can capitalise on their traffic with Google Adsense or go independent and sell ad space via their own social media channels.
20. Be a virtual assistant.
No matter where you are, you can get paid to do other people’s admin without having to go to the office. Genius! Check out sites like FlexJobs for listings.
21. House sit.
Your job is to sit in the house, turn the lights on and off at appropriate times, and *maybe* check the mail. Sounds pretty chill, no? Head to Mind My House to search for job listings.
22. Launch an Etsy shop.
Craft enthusiasts are making top paper on Etsy, and with companies like Shipstation, shipping stuff out is so much easier than it used to be.
This story was originally published on April 7, 2017.
